Laying hen’s mobility is impaired by keel bone fractures and does not improve with paracetamol treatment

Rentsch, Ana K.; Rufener, Christina; Spadavecchia, Claudia; Stratmann, Ariane; Toscano, Michael J.

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2019.04.015

Cited by 33 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, a callus-like expansion of bone is not a definitive proof of fractured bone as it can also result from other processes such as periosteal irritations, congenital malformations, periostitis, osteomyelitis, and bone tumors ( Baumgartner and Ulrich, 2015 ). The recent use of radiography to accurately detect fractures ( Richards et al., 2011 ; Eusemann et al., 2018a ; Rufener et al., 2018b , 2019 ; Rentsch et al., 2019 ; Baur et al., 2020 ) within a relatively narrow time window should be exploited to allow for immediate macroscopic and histopathologic examination. A comprehensive morphological examination of lesions immediately after the onset is needed for proof of principal that the lesion in question is indeed a fracture and identification of the cause.…”

Section: Additional Explanations For Kbf Susceptibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Explanations for keel bone fractures in laying hens: are there explanations in addition to elevated egg production?

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The current article served to provide the most up-to-date information regarding the causes of keel bone fracture. Although elevated and sustained egg production is likely a major contributing factor toward fractures, new information resulting from the development of novel methodologies suggests complementary causes that should be investigated. We identified 4 broad areas that could explain variation and increased fractures independent of or complementing elevated and sustained egg production: the age at first egg, late ossification of the keel, predisposing bone diseases, and inactivity leading to poor bone health. We also specified several topics that future research should target, which include continued efforts to link egg production and bone health, examination of noncommercial aves and traditional breeds, manipulating of age at first egg, a detailed histological and structural analysis of the keel, assessment of prefracture bone condition, and the relationship between individual activity patterns and bone health.

show abstract

Section: Additional Explanations For Kbf Susceptibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Explanations for keel bone fractures in laying hens: are there explanations in addition to elevated egg production?

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Proportions of hens with keel bone damage ranging from 30 to 97% [ 2 , 3 , 4 ] have been reported across different production systems for commercial laying hens [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Keel bone fractures may be associated with pain [ 8 , 9 ], reduced mobility, altered behavior, and altered affective state [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. The high prevalence combined with the welfare implications for the hens makes keel bone damage one of the most urgent welfare problems faced by laying hen industry today [ 6 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (Gallus gallus)—A Pilot Study

Kittelsen

Jensen

Christensen

et al. 2020

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Keel bone damage (KBD) is a highly prevalent problem in commercial egg production. KBD consists of two different conditions affecting the keel: Keel bone deviation and keel bone fractures (KBF). Deviations are linked to pressure on the keel, e.g., from perching. The causative factors for KBF are not clear; however, selection for efficient egg production has been suggested as a major contributing factor. An important step to shed light on the role of selective breeding as an underlying cause of KBF in modern laying hens is to evaluate the keel bones of the ancestor, the red jungle fowl. To the authors’ knowledge, this has never previously been published. The aim of this study was therefore to describe the prevalence of KBD in a study group of red jungle hens and roosters housed in an aviary system. The present study examined 29 red jungle fowls 112 weeks of age post-mortem; 12 hens and 17 roosters. Keel bones were evaluated by external palpation for deviations and fractures. Palpation was followed by autopsy. No fractures were detected in the 17 roosters; one had a very slight deviation. Of the 12 red jungle hens in this pilot study, one had a single fracture and 10 hens had a very slight deviation.

show abstract

“…Studies investigating the occurrence of KBF in roosters are generally lacking, but one study reported no cases of KBF in the included roosters [ 16 ]. Welfare implications of KBF include the associated pain [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], reduced mobility [ 21 , 22 , 23 ] and altered affective state [ 24 ]. The high prevalence, along with the impact on affected animals, makes KBF one of the biggest welfare challenges faced by the laying hen industry today [ 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Descriptive Study of Keel Bone Fractures in Hens and Roosters from Four Non-Commercial Laying Breeds Housed in Furnished Cages

Kittelsen

Moe

Hansen

et al. 2020

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The presence of keel bone fractures (KBF) in laying hens has been documented and discussed by several authors, nevertheless the causative factors behind KBF remain uncertain. High prevalence of KBF have been reported in all commercial egg production systems, in different genetic lines and at different ages. Several of the proposed causal mechanisms behind KBF are linked to selection for efficient production. It is, therefore, of interest to explore whether less selected breeds have a lower occurrence of keel bone fractures compared to reports from highly selected, modern laying hen breeds. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate keel bones of hens from four non-commercial layer breeds. Birds were housed in furnished cages and keel bones examined at 30 and 63 weeks of age, using a portable X-ray equipment. The results from this descriptive study indicate a low prevalence of KBF at both ages in all four breeds, with only five KBF detected in 213 X-ray pictures taken from 126 birds. Of these, four of the KBF were observed in the most genetically selected breed, with an early onset of lay. None of the roosters examined exhibited KBF. The overall low numbers of KBF found indicate that genetic factors may be involved in KBF and, thus that selective breeding may help to reduce the susceptibility to KBF. Finally, this study highlights the importance of poultry conservation to secure genetic diversity, which may be an important resource in future selection schemes.

show abstract

Laying hen’s mobility is impaired by keel bone fractures and does not improve with paracetamol treatment

Cited by 33 publications

References 34 publications

Explanations for keel bone fractures in laying hens: are there explanations in addition to elevated egg production?

Explanations for keel bone fractures in laying hens: are there explanations in addition to elevated egg production?

Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (Gallus gallus)—A Pilot Study

A Descriptive Study of Keel Bone Fractures in Hens and Roosters from Four Non-Commercial Laying Breeds Housed in Furnished Cages

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About